Threats of extreme winds, which ultimately came to pass on Sunday and forced the sprint to be abandoned, forced MotoGP to bring the Australian Grand Prix forward to Saturday. But it proved a memorable one for a paddock stalwart who celebrated his long-awaited maiden win.
Since making his MotoGP debut in 2017, 119 grand prix events have passed without Johann Zarco – a rider brimming with promise when he stepped up as double Moto2 world champion – winning a grand prix. That changed on start 120 in brilliant fashion, as he preserved his rear tyre to come through to snatch the win from Pramac team-mate Jorge Martin on the last lap. It’s a victory that could well have a big bearing on the outcome of the title, but that is of little concern to Zarco.
After a wobbly start to the weekend, Francesco Bagnaia on the factory Ducati was able to extend his championship lead over Pramac by outsmarting his title rival. Martin’s soft tyre gamble raised eyebrows and it backfired spectacularly, as he went from leading almost every lap to finishing fifth as Bagnaia took second.
Completing the podium for the very first time was Gresini’s Fabio Di Giannantonio – a timely result for a rider looking to save his MotoGP career. Elsewhere, Yamaha’s misery continued and came with a disconcerting statement from Fabio Quartararo over its prospects. KTM edged closer to Ducati’s level, while Aprilia’s overseas woes returned.
Here are 10 things we learned from the 2023 MotoGP Australian Grand Prix: